About the store
The Vivify team is on a mission to re-engineer STEM education! We are dedicated to creating authentic, engaging, and accessible K-12 STEM lessons that progressively develop critical STEM skills, knowledge, and habits of mind. Designed by a team of educators and engineers, our lessons are low-prep and classroom-tested. Join the over 25,000 educators, and vivify your classroom today!
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Elementary STEM Space Lander Challenge
Completely Revamped (2025)! Space Lander STEM Challenge for Elementary! This STEM activity is one of our favorite engineering design challenges! The combination of ping pong balls and aliens makes this a winning STEM challenge! In this hands on challenge, students create a mechanical solution to solve a problem. The unit brings together engineering and physical science topics for an engaging engineering design challenge. Students use the engineering design process to create a lander to safely k
3rd - 5th
Physics, Science
CCSS, NGSS
3.MD.A.1
, 4.MD.A.1
, 4.MD.A.2
+14
Also included in: Space STEM Starter Challenges MEGA Bundle: Elementary Grades
Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion - STEM Space Activities
Demonstrate Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion with four engaging activities delivering a learning experience that is sure to grab the attention of all types of learners. Get up and get moving with exciting games and delectable visuals to represent the solar system! Click here for an editable STEM journal to use with distance learning, including digital and printable versions.
K - 6th
Astronomy, General Science, Physics
Also included in: Space STEM Starter Challenges MEGA Bundle: Middle School
Simple Machines | Wedges: Operation Split and Slip | 5th Grade STEM Innovators
Simple Machines | Wedges: Operation Split and Slip | 5th Grade STEM InnovatorsIn this hands-on challenge, students create a mechanical solution to solve a problem. The unit brings together engineering and physical science topics for an engaging design challenge. The challenge is to create a spy splitter using a wedge mechanism that can retrieve a clue trapped between two objects. Students begin by learning how they work and learning about mechanical advantage. Using what they learn, students the
5th
Engineering, Math, Physics
CCSS, NGSS
3.MD.B.4
, 4.MD.A.1
, 5.MD.C.3
+10
Simple Machines | Pulleys: Operation Silent Descent | 5th Grade STEM Innovators
Simple Machines | Pulleys: Operation Silent Descent | 5th Grade STEM InnovatorsIn this hands-on challenge, students create a mechanical solution to solve a problem. The unit brings together engineering and physical science topics for an engaging design challenge. The challenge is to lower a figurine ("secret agent") using a pulley as quietly and controlled as possible. Students begin by learning how they work and learning about mechanical advantage. Using what they learn, students then design,
5th
Engineering, Math, Physics
CCSS, NGSS
5.MD.C.5
, 5.OA.A.1
, 5.NF.B.6
+7
Design a Car Engineering Design Challenge | 1st Grade STEM Discoveries
Design a Car Engineering Design Challenge | 1st Grade STEM DiscoveriesRev up your STEM classroom with the Design a Car STEM Challenge! Students will step into the shoes of engineers as they explore the evolution of cars, uncover the secrets of speed, and build their own dream vehicle! Using If I Built a Car as inspiration, learners will discover that problems can have multiple solutions, just like real-world engineering. Students will use common materials to construct a working model of a car,
1st
Engineering, Math, Physics
NGSS
K-2-ETS1-2
, K-2-ETS1-3
, K-2-ETS1-1
Also included in: 1st Grade STEM Discoveries | GROWING BUNDLE!
Stop Motion Animation Activity
Combine storytelling with STEM! Students choose from three STEM scenarios to create a stop motion animation video. Instructions are provided on how to use a free Chromebook extension to setup a stop motion activity. The same activities can be completed with iPads or Kindles with a stop motion app. Materials required are Chromebooks, trifold boards for a backdrop, and action figures or other movie props. Stikbots are the perfect action figure to use! Click here for an editable STEM journal to us
PreK - 12th
Engineering, General Science, Physics
Also included in: Bundle: STEM Family Night Planning Guide, Activity Instructions
STEM Christmas Challenge: Elf Sledding Adventure
One of Santa's helpers needs your assistance! This engaging and hands-on activity will teach your students as they help a fun friend down a snowy slope by building a sledding vehicle. Your students will follow the Engineering Design Process with the included worksheets to guide them through each step. This is the perfect holiday themed STEM challenge to review math and physics concepts while having fun! Product Includes:Detailed Activity GuideGuide to implementing STEM in your classroom Editabl
4th - 10th
Engineering, Physics
NGSS
MS-ETS1-2
, 3-5-ETS1-3
, MS-ETS1-4
+4
Also included in: Christmas STEM Challenges Bundle: Elf, Santa, and More!
Basics of Makey Makey: STEM Activity
If you haven't already discovered Makey Makey, stop everything and watch this video! These little circuit boards bring together coding, invention, creativity, and electronics. Just plug into any computer, and with no software download required, watch as your students turn conductive items (PlayDoh, oranges, pencil lead) into a controller that replaces a keyboard or mouse! We love using these with from elementary all the way to high school! Click here for an editable STEM journal to use with d
PreK - 12th
Engineering, General Science, Physics
Also included in: Bundle: STEM Family Night Planning Guide, Activity Instructions
Design a Shelter Engineering Design Challenge | 1st Grade STEM Discoveries
Design a Shelter Engineering Design Challenge | 1st Grade STEM DiscoveriesStudents will learn about common characteristics of shelters and how different seasons have different shelter material needs. Students will read A Stroll Through the Seasons to recognize that problems can have multiple solutions. Students will then design, build and test their own all-season shelter! Through hands-on creativity, students will learn to create and build their own all-weather shelter! Students will discover
1st
Engineering, Math, Physics
NGSS, TEKS
K-2-ETS1-2
, K-2-ETS1-3
, K-2-ETS1-1
+10
Also included in: 1st Grade STEM Discoveries | GROWING BUNDLE!
Paper Circuits STEM Activity
Paper circuits are a fun way to teach circuits and conductivity. Students use the easy-to-follow diagrams to create their own card that will light up! Instructions are in both English and Spanish. Materials needed: paper, copper tape, LED lights, coin batteries, and clear tape. Students can also use markers or crayons to decorate the card. Included are instructions for using paper circuits as a classroom project or part of a STEM Family Night.
PreK - 12th
Engineering, General Science, Physics
Also included in: Bundle: STEM Family Night Planning Guide, Activity Instructions
Simple Machines - Operation: Secret Lever | 5th Grade STEM Innovators
Simple Machines STEM - Operation: Secret Lever | 5th Grade STEM InnovatorsIn this hands-on engineering challenge, students step into the role of inventors and problem-solvers as they design a mechanical solution to a fun (and sneaky!) problem. Blending engineering design with physical science, this unit challenges students to create a candy grabber that uses at least one lever mechanism to retrieve candy without being detected by factory workers. Students begin by exploring how levers work thro
5th
Engineering, Math, Physics
CCSS, NGSS
4.MD.A.1
, 4.MD.A.2
, 5.MD.C.3
+8
Design a Boot Engineering Design Challenge | 1st Grade STEM Discoveries
Design a Boot Engineering Design Challenge | 1st Grade STEM DiscoveriesStudents will step into the role of engineers as they investigate friction, discover how different materials create high or low friction, and design their own boot! Using A Silly Snow Day as inspiration, learners will recognize that problems can have multiple solutions - just like real-world engineering. Through hands-on creativity, students will learn to create high-friction boot soles and build their own boot! Students wil
1st
Engineering, Math, Physics
NGSS
K-2-ETS1-2
, K-2-ETS1-3
, K-2-ETS1-1
Also included in: 1st Grade STEM Discoveries | GROWING BUNDLE!
Magnetic Friend Engineering Design Challenge | 1st Grade STEM Discoveries
Design a Magnetic Friend Engineering Design Challenge | 1st Grade STEM DiscoveriesStudents will step into the shoes of engineers as they explore the magic of magnets, uncover how they attract and repel, and design their own magnetic friend! Using Marsha is Magnetic as inspiration, learners will recognize that problems can have multiple solutions - just like real-world engineering. Through hands-on creativity, students will construct their own magnetic friend, mastering the art of building magne
1st
Engineering, Math, Physics
NGSS
K-2-ETS1-2
, K-2-ETS1-3
, K-2-ETS1-1
Also included in: 1st Grade STEM Discoveries | GROWING BUNDLE!
Valentine's Day Love Bug STEM Challenge
Love Bug STEM Challenge - Perfect for Valentine's Day! In this hands on challenge, students design a love bug that will use a vibrating motor and battery to move the bug along a surface at least 3 inches to deliver a Valentine’s Day message, demonstrating how electrical energy is converted into mechanical energy. Students will be introduced to open and closed circuits. Some students might go above and beyond and experiment with switches and light bulbs if provided. This engineering design lesson
4th - 8th
Engineering, General Science, Physics
NGSS
MS-ETS1-2
, 4-PS3-4
, 3-5-ETS1-3
+5
Showing 1-14 of 14 results
About the store
Experience
The Vivify team is on a mission to re-engineer STEM education! We are dedicated to creating authentic, engaging, and accessible K-12 STEM lessons that progressively develop critical STEM skills, knowledge, and habits of mind. Designed by a team of educators and engineers, our lessons are low-prep and classroom-tested. Join the over 25,000 educators, and vivify your classroom today!
Teaching style
STEM transforms classrooms into an exciting world of curiosity, problem-solving, and creativity. Successful STEM education is an empowering interdisciplinary approach that brings math, science, and engineering concepts to life through challenging opportunities that mimic the complexities and excitement of the real world.
In our STEM classrooms, students apply math and science to a problem, using the engineering design process through technology. Our lessons follow the 3 Stages of STEM philosophy:
Stage 1 includes activities like tower challenges where students learn how to work together and develop essential habits of mind.
Stage 2 is where you introduce the engineering design process and add math and science, then use technology to solve a problem.
Stage 3 consists of longer, more complex challenges with a research component. In this stage, students solve a more open-ended problem and there is typically a final project that they present.
My own education history
Vivify is a STEM education company that is co-founded by Natasha Wilkerson and Claire Meschkat, two aerospace engineers turned educators who live in Texas.
Claire is a Pre-K thru 9th grade STEM teacher and STEM program coordinator at a Texas private school. She specializes in developing engineering curricula for elementary and middle school grades including the STEM Explorers series. Claire has a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and a Masters of Education in Educational Psychology - Creativity & Cognition from Texas A&M University. Before Vivify, she worked as an aerospace engineer at Boeing Commercial Airlines, Boeing Space Exploration, & Air Tractor, Inc.
Natasha is the founder of Space Club, a K-8 informal STEM program that is now an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit, the Cosmic Leap Foundation. Natasha specializes in research and development of engineering curricula and programming for middle school. Natasha has a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction from Texas A&M University. Before Vivify, Natasha worked as an engineer for the United States Department of the Navy in radar and satellite spectrum management.
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